National Civil Rights Museum Reopens

The National Civil Rights Museum reopens after a $28 million renovation.

April 5, 2014 - Patricia Smith, an actress with Hattiloo Theatre, pumps her fist during minister Cortney Richardson's rendition of, "You Raise Me Up," at the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that includes new exhibits featuring interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Executive director Beverly Robertson (center) smiles exuberantly as doves are released during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that includes new exhibits featuring interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal Henry Fields holds grandsons Lawrence Britt, 4, and Landon Britt, 2, at the National Civil Rights Museum Friday evening. The “Remembering a Moment, Reimagining a World” event was held to remember the 46th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

April 4, 2014 - Visitors look into Dr. Martin Luther King's Room 306 at the National Civil Rights Museum during a tour Friday. The museum is celebrating its grand reopening on the 46th anniversary of King's death. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - A woman watches the crowd during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. The balcony, outside Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel, is the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 4, 2014 - Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president, Children's Defense Fund, (center) holds hands with visitors as they sing, "We Shall Overcome," during the candlelight vigil observing the 46th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death at the National Civil Rights Museum Friday evening. The museum is also celebrating its grand reopening after a $28 million renovation. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 4, 2014 - Megan Turner weeps as a wreath is changed on the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was slain 46 years ago during a candlelight vigil at the National Civil Rights Museum Friday evening. The museum is also celebrating its grand reopening after a $28 million renovation. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 4, 2014 - Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. lock arms as they perform a fraternity salute during a candlelight vigil remembering the 46th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination at the National Civil Rights Museum Friday evening. The museum is also celebrating its grand reopening after a $28 million renovation. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Patricia Smith and Nichole Jackson, actresses with Hattiloo Theatre, listen to a speaker during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Elmore Nickleberry (center), a Memphis sanitation worker, bows his head in prayer during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, is the site where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. NCRM has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Minister Rosalyn Nichols, of Freedom's Chapel Christian Church, reads a moving speech during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - National Civil Rights Museum founder D'Army Bailey and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) listen to an excited Beverly Robertson, executive director of the museum, during its grand reopening Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Visitors peek from a window during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. The balcony, outside Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel, is the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Members of Whitehaven High School's marching band perform in a parade on S. Main St. for the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Sophomore Mya Benson, 15, and other members of Whitehaven High School's marching band perform in a parade on S. Main St. for the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - Visitors either take photos of or sit in a bus featuring a statue of civil rights activist Rosa Parks during the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum Saturday afternoon. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 2014 - The Birmingham exhibit, inside the newly renovated National Civil Rights Museum, features the jail cell Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his famous April 16, 1963 letter. NCRM, at the Lorraine Motel, has reopened after undergoing a $28 million renovation that features new exhibits and interactive stations. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)